Remote tribe spared prying lens but not chainsaw
Vicki Hird
17 November 2010
I'll no longer think of Museums as musty, inward looking places. Yesterday London's Natural History Museum responded to protests by suspending a planned expedition to a remote region of Paraguay, the Chaco. Campaigners and local people were concerned that it might disturb one of the world's last un-contacted tribes - and the trip's organisers listened.
The Chaco's indigenous tribes may be spared the scientists' probing lenses. But, thanks to the UK Government's reluctance to listen, its people and wildlife are more threatened than ever - and by a far more sinister invasion.
The forest snatching spread of soy monocultures has been going on for some time. The UK Government's decision last week to oppose the Sustainable Livestock Bill means it will for the time being at least continue unchecked.
Vast areas of South American wildlife have been planted with soy for export and use in animal feed in Europe. New areas are continually being cleared to feed our factory farms.
In Paraguay, soy growing is expanding rapidly into the Chaco and the equally threatened Atlantic dry forest - home to some of the world's rarest wildlife. It is transported to Argentina for processing but still reaches our plates in the UK as bacon, chicken burgers and cheese. And it's not just in Paraguay - UK consumption soy is responsible for deforesting an area of Brazil twice the size of greater London each year.
A Sustainable Livestock Law would have provided support farmers to graze animals and feed them a home grown diet.
It would have helped consumers choose less damaging diets.
The new law would have helped to reduce the UK's pressure on biodiverse rich areas like the Chaco. It was supported by 60,000 people and a range of wildlife, animal and environmental organizations. But the Government refused to back it and a small number of opposing MPs were able to thwart its progress
The Natural History Museum may find other ways to learn about Paraguay's remote regions. It should hurry up before soy farming destroys them too.
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